Russia have expressed their anger at the U.S. Navy entering the Black Sea on April 3rd as part of a series of NATO drills.

Operation Atlantic Resolve is the NATO response to the conflict in Ukraine designed to strengthen security. However, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson has warned NATO and the U.S. that they have taken “an unprecedentedly dangerous step.”

With the U.S. also having deployed 750 tanks and thousands of troops to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the tension between Russia and the West continues to mount.

Meanwhile, the destroyer Porter and cruiser Anzio are running final divisional tactics maneuvers as they draw near Scotland, where they will participate in Joint Warrior, Europe’s largest military exercise — again, designed to deter Russian aggression.

The exercise features 12,000 war fighters from 15 NATO countries and partners, to include roughly 60 warships and submarines, more than 100 aircraft, and nearly 3,000 ground forces. The cruiser Vicksburg, destroyer Donald Cook, dry cargo ship Medgar Evers, and elements from Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 48 will also participate.

Because so many wanted to get in the game, rack space is a hot commodity on Anzio. The ship left Norfolk on March 27 with nearly 70 extra crew members from 14 commands. Porter had some extra passengers, as well, but fewer in number since the ship will homeport in Rota, Spain, when the exercise ends.